There have been several ACFA shows now, and Pixie-Bobs are doing great! We hope to have more info about how the shows went and the breeds advancement in this association.

Our breeds very own ACFA Pixie-Bob Club, “Cats Gone Wild” has also been formed and plans to put on its very first show in Northern California in early spring of 09′. So if you are in the area and a Pixie Bob fan, come show your appreciation for the breed and root them on in the rings. It sounds like it’s already shaping up to be an awesome show!

From The Cat Crazy Newsletter

By Petplace.com

Can cats be trained? Well, we all know that cats do what they want to when they want to… right?

Well, if you are a cat owner who thinks that cats can’t be trained to respond to commands the same way that dogs do, you’re in for a surprise. Basic training for cats is possible (in most cases…).

The next question is “Why would anybody want to train their cat?”

Well, there are some good reasons other than for the amusement of your friends and relatives or to test your patience. Imagine that you are coming home from grocery shopping with your arms full of shopping bags and that you must get inside your home without your cat escaping. Untrained, your cat, eager to greet you, may stick her nose out of the door as soon as you open it.

Sound familiar? Just ask your cat-owning friends how often their cats have accidentally escaped when someone has held the door open too long.

You may not want to train your cat to perform tricks, but training your cat to understand and obey a few common commands will help you to strengthen your relationship with her.

One of the Petplace writers has written a great article titled “Can You Train Your Cat“. It gives some great tips on how to teach your cat to “Sit”, “Come” and “Stay”.

From The Dog Crazy Newsletter

By Petplace.com

Ever wonder why dogs chew on things? Even better, why do they chew on expensive things (like the $10,000 cherry wood dining set or the $150 pair of dress shoes or $250 purse)? Well…there are several reasons for dogs chewing on things.

1. Puppies and juvenile dogs learn about their environment by mouthing and gnawing on objects. Typically the targets are random, and may include shoes, books or bedposts. Investigational or “play-related” destructiveness of this kind is a normal behavior for a growing dog.

2. Some adult dogs chew out of boredom or because they are upset when “abandoned” by their owners each morning. In frenzied efforts to escape the house or find her owner, a dog of this persuasion will dig and chew at doorways, windowsills and curtains. She may also search for shoes, pillows, purses and other personal items to chew on.

3. Other dogs may chew because they have a nervous personality or they have some phobia. If your dog suffers from thunder phobia, she can cause dramatic damage to your house on stormy days. In addition to thunder, your dog may develop fears of fireworks, wind, and a variety of other noises.

4. Finally, dogs chew because it is “FUN”.

The solutions to stop chewing will vary based on the dog and the reason for the chewing. But one simple time tested solution is to give them something to chew on. There are a number of excellent “chew toys” in the market. I like the Kong® brand toys, that are durable and strong. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes (you can even hide treats in many KONG toys).

You can get these toys on-line and in many stores. If you shop

PetSmart, they have a large number of items On-Sale including toys, food, accessories, etc. For more information on the items on Sale, go to petsmart.com (if you enter your zip code they will even show the specials in your local store!)

Ensure whatever chew toys you use are built to withstand a good chewing without breaking in dangerous pieces that your dog can choke on or get lodged in his intestinal tract. Choose the right toys and your house will be a safe place for your shoes, chairs and your furniture.

From The Dog Crazy Newsletter

By Petplace.com

The response to this article has been INCREDIBLE! Over 20,000 people read that article and many sent comments about their own dog/cat experiences. I will share / post as many comments as we can over the next week as many of them are excellent.

Today, I want to share one of the stories we got. I think we can all learn something from it.

Here is Donna’s story about how her dog killed her cat.

“We have a Weimaranerthat killed my cat. I was devastated. I had the cat for years, and also had 2 other dogs that got along fine with the cat. But when I got married, my husband had a Weimaraner puppy. I did my best to socialize him with the cat, just like I did with my other dogs. Things seemed to be fine, but he did always seem to have the instinct to chase her. One day I came home, and found my cat dead.

I usually kept my cat in a separate area of the house when I wasn’t home, just to make sure she was safe, so I’m not sure how he got to her. But anyway, it was a terrible thing. I do still love my Weimar very much, (although I’ll admit it took me awhile to forgive him). He’s really a truly sweet, lovable, and wonderful dog. But I think the chase and hunt instinct in him was too great, especially if she ran, or hissed at him. He loves to chase most anything, birds, squirrels (he recently caught one of those too), rabbits, etc. I think it’s just his breed. I’ve heard stories of Weimaraner getting along with cats, but I would never take the chance again, nor would I advise anyone to get a Weimaraner if they have a cat. Just my personal experience, I thought I would share. Good luck to those who have cats and dogs. I’d love to have another cat, but I’ve learned a hard lesson with my Weimar.”

Donna Keith

Thanks for sharing your story Donna. Thanks for forgiving your dog, you are a kind spirit.

Dr. Jon

P.S. – So who is the Irreverent Vet? He/She has over 15 years of veterinary experience and is very, very knowledgeable. I ask the “Irreverent Vet” to tackle tough topics on a regular basis. His/Her comments may not be popular sometimes, but they are honest and are intended to give you an insight into what vets really think (but may be afraid to say to their clients).

From The Dog Crazy Newsletter

By Petplace.com

Some dogs chew their kibble and other just seem to swallow it whole. Some seem just gulp their food between chasing the cats.

So does the shape of a dog’s food matter to a dog? Pet food companies do lots of studies on the size and shape of kibble that dogs like most. In today’s market most dog kibble is square, rectangular or irregular shaped.

So… what is the best kibble shape? How about the size of a nice Dog BONE that they can hold in their mouth.

A meal in the shape of a bone? Yes, this is the concept behind a new dog food that just came out called

WholeMeals. (if you can’t picture it – check here to see a photo of it). Their studies suggest that dogs like it better and that there is a substantial reduction in tartar and plaque as they are required to “chew” their food rather than swallow it whole. It takes a dog about four times longer to eat and is more “natural”.

This is a really interesting concept. Nutritionally it looks good. This product is available in a number of specialty pet stores. To see this brand new product and see if it is something your dog may like go to:

Whatever you feed, make sure it is nutritious and formulated to meet the life stage of your dog. Also, periodically take a look at your dog’s teeth to determine if tartar and plaque are building up. If you notice your dog has bad breath or the teeth are abnormal – make an appointment with your veterinarian.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon

P.S. The most important thing is that the kibble is nutritious, smells good,is palatable and that your dog likes it. If you he seems to have lost his zest for eating his kibble you may want to try a bone shaped kibble . To see this new bone-shaped food and see if it is right for your dog go to:

From The Dog Crazy Newsletter

By PetPlace.com

Last week I told you the number one reason pet owners take their dogs… is vomiting.

Can you guess what is #2?

Well?… It is diarrhea. I know that this is not a pleasant subject, but it is so common that I believe all that all pet owners should know what to do if your dog has an on-set of diarrhea. So please take a minute to read this e-mail so you know what to look for and what to do.

Let’s get started…

A quick medical definition for diarrhea is a sudden onset and short duration (three weeks or less) of watery or watery-mucoid diarrhea. Occasionally the fecal material is also overtly bloody.

Diarrhea results from excessive water content in the feces and is an important sign of intestinal diseases in the dog. Diarrhea can affect your dog by causing extreme fluid loss, which leads to dehydration, electrolyte disturbances, and/or acid-base imbalances.

Diarrhea is a symptom that can be caused by many different diseases or conditions, and specific treatment requires a diagnosis.

Common causes of diarrhea include:

1. Dietary indiscretion can include the eating of spoiled food, overeating, the ingestion of foreign materials, and/or sudden changes in the diet.

2. Intestinal parasites (e.g. roundworms, hookworms, whipworms) are a common cause of acute diarrhea, especially in young dogs.

3. Bacteria and bacterial toxins (Salmonella, Clostridium, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Yersinia, etc.) may cause acute diarrhea and may be contracted from contaminated food and water, or exposure to the fecal material of other infected animals.

Although most cases of acute diarrhea are short-lived and self-limiting, there are some cases that require diagnostic testing to confirm an underlying cause. This will require that you take your dog into see you vet or to the Emergency Room.

How much will going in to see the vet for a dog with diarrhea cost you? Anywhere from $100 – $300+ depending whether they do fecal studies, complete blood count, radiographs and other diagnostic tests.

Could you afford to cover emergencies like this out of pocket? How about even more costly emergencies? Have you looked into pet insurance yet? If you have not done so, take a minute to find out how pet insurance can save you money – go to: veterinarypetinsurance.com .

The good news, is that in many cases the prognosis for cure of self-limiting diarrhea is very good. When the diarrhea begins you should feed a bland diet, made from a boiled lean meat (chicken, hamburger or turkey) mixed 50/50 with boiled white rice. Do not use any additives such as butter, salt, garlic, or seasoning. Over a couple days, you can slowly decrease the bland diet and increase is regular food until he is back on his normal food.

If the dog that has diarrhea acts lethargic, weak, the diarrhea has blood or vomiting begins, the recommendation is to have the dog evaluated by a veterinarian even if you have to pay for it out-of-pocket. Your dog’s health is the first priority.

Until next time…

Dr. Jon

P.S. – Once the diarrhea has resolved, keep your dog on a consistent, balanced diet and restrict access to garbage and other things that can cause diarrhea. If your dog’s diarrhea has failed to respond to the management outlined, it may require more extensive diagnostics. You should have your dog reevaluated by your veterinarian.

P.P.S. – Vomiting and diarrhea are very common and in the best of cases can cost hundreds of dollars in office / ER visits or thousands if there is a more serious underlying condition. If you have the cash in the bank and are willing to spend it, that is great. However, if unexpected expenses are a problem, please consider pet insurance. They have a number of different plans to fit different budgets. To get a quote and see if there is plan that is right for you Go to: petinsurance.com.

Wild At Heart: The International Journal of the Pixie-Bob

This is the “News Room” for the International Pixie-Bob Journal. Our News Correspondent, Sandra Janoski of Wild Touch Pixie-Bobs, along with our many RSS feeds supplys us with up to date pet related information. Along with this information, we will post important/interesting Pixie-Bob information, online Journal release dates, submission dates for the Journal regarding pictures, articles, contests, etc.